In one of the least surprising pieces of news during the NFL offseason, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended once again by the league. Only this time, the suspension comes after Burfict allegedly tested positive for PEDs.
In reporting on the four-game suspension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter had this to say.
“Burfict’s appeal will center around the fact that he was on prescribed medication for the concussion he suffered on a hit from Steelers’ wide receiver Ju-Ju Smith Schuster on Dec. 4 and that he suffered a Grade 3 shoulder AC sprain during the Detroit Lions game on Dec. 24 and was on prescribed medications for this injury as well,” Schefter noted.
Well, the always talkative and social media active JuJu Smith-Schuster was not having any of this.
That dude Burfict been on too much Slurp Juice and now tryna blame me 😂😂
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 17, 2018
In case you had forgotten, Smith-Schuster was suspended one game for an illegal hit on Burfict during a game between the Bengals and Steelers last season. Obviously, Burfict is attempting to turn that ugly situation into some sort of a defense for using a substance banned by the NFL.
It goes without saying that this appeal will likely be quickly rejected by the NFL. And for his part, Smith-Schuster is not holding back himself.
If said appeal is denied, it will represent the third consecutive season that Burfict has been suspended for Week 1. How fun.